Disclaimer: Power Rangers belongs to Haim Saban and Disney (do I really have to keep saying it?)

Author's Note: I finally have free time to update! Thank you all for being so patient with me. The wait will be worth every chapter! Please read and review! This is not the end yet!

Chapter 10

Anton Mercer took a small box out of his closet and steadied his shaking hands. "I've only got one shot…"

He ran back to Trent's room and opened the box. He took out a syringe and a small vial filled with a purple liquid. What he was about to use on Trent was only experimental.

Anton mentally berated himself for not testing it yet. He felt bad that Trent was about to unwillingly become part of his scientific experimentation but was certain that it would work. Willingly or not, Trent had to wake up. And this was the solution.

The prototype he cradled in the palm of his hand was the first and only batch of 'dream serum'. In theory, it would allow him to communicate with Trent in the dream world. Anton himself would not be a part of the dream and would not hear or see what Trent was dreaming about. But Trent would be able to hear and maybe even 'see' him in his nightmare. Hopefully, if it worked, he could lead him out of it and bring him back to a fully-aware state of consciousness.

Anton figured that if he called 911, the ambulance might arrive far too late. Besides, he wasn't even sure how long Trent's body was subjected to such high levels of stress. So he did the only thing a father could do. Take matters into his own hands.

Trent's nightmare

"Please leave me alone!" Trent cried as he broke free of the decayed hand that had grabbed his wrist and shuddered. It felt like frozen sand paper. His wrist was itchy where it grabbed him. He no longer wanted to believe that those things following him were his parents. They couldn't be. This was too scary to be real!

He turned and fled once again down the dark, twisting tunnel praying to see light up ahead. He wanted to be free of the atrocity that was plaguing him. "Somebody help me!" Trent screamed. He prayed that it would just end!

Suddenly, Trent felt a stabbing pain in his neck. But as quickly as it came, it vanished. Leaving no trace of what he felt moments before. Then something strange happened. His body felt lighter. He no longer felt lead-heavy and didn't feel like he was running in slow motion anymore. He took advantage of this new sensation and ran as fast as he could.

Then, his prayers were answered because up ahead he could see a growing light. As if from heaven, Trent heard a welcoming voice that warmed his heart and soul. The nightmare was slowly fading out of vision.

"Trent, son, you must listen to me. Follow my voice and keep running for the light up ahead!"

Then the nightmare tried to pull him back again, tried to keep him a prisoner. But Trent wouldn't let it take him without a fight. He kept running and the light grew closer. Trent cried out in a panic when the darkness tried swallowing up the light that was his escape. He lost hope when realizing that he might never get out of there. Just when he was about to give up, the comforting voice called to him again. It encouraged him and pushed him on.

He could see a shadowy outline of the person calling to him at the front of the brilliant radiance, and instantly knew who it was.

"Son, you can do it. Don't give up!"

"I won't dad, I promise!"

He stopped and turned around. Now filled with a strengthening, new power, Trent accomplished the impossible. With bold resolution and an unwavering sense of courage, he faced his fears head on.

"Go away and leave me alone because I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU!"

His courage was like a wildfire and it consumed what was left of the nightmare. The terrible images and horrors that had followed him shrank away into nothingness.

A sense of incredible victory washed over him and he flew towards the light and to his father that awaited him.